PGR_NTX Patriot Guard Amy Rubin Update

[Mission Information For North Texas PGR]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

Final Amy Rubin update.

 

Thank you to all who went above and beyond to help Amy on her ride through
Texas.  The spirit of the PGR certainly showed through in your excellent
work and we all congratulate and thank you for everything you have done.

 

I just received a report that the spirit of helping others without thought
of reward even rubbed off on the good folks at the BMW dealership who
refused to take any money from Amy for the repairs they did on her bike and
they also modified how she tied down her travel bags, all at no cost to her.
They wanted her to consider it their contribution to her cause.  (We also
heard that her husband had been released from his training early and was
going to be able to ride out and meet her for part of her ride into
Shreveport.  Good news all around.)

 

I think that this is not only a tribute to Amy and her mission but also a
tribute to each of you, the Patriot Guard Riders and what you do every day.
Each of you is an ambassador for the PGR every time you get on your bike,
put on your vest or talk to someone about our proud organization.  Each and
every day more and more people know of the PGR and what the organization
does and stands for thanks to our visibility and your good work.  More and
more, you notice people stopping and paying attention when they see a PGR
formation coming down the road because they recognize that a member of the
armed forces - past or present - is being taken to their final resting place
and our presence is a notice for the public to stop what they are doing and
pay their respects as that patriot passes by.

 

Agencies such as police departments and fire departments don't just freely
associate and work in conjunction with groups as they do with the PGR
without being completely comfortable with them and what they're about.  And
YOU are the PGR.  It's not just any group of citizens who can call the
Dallas Police Department motorcycle unit, the Mesquite Police Department,
Deputy Constable King, etc., let them know that a soldier has been killed in
action, and then watch them drop whatever they are doing to not only honor
that soldier/sailor/marine, but to work so closely with us to obtain for
them the details they need to make their mission a success.  That working
relationship is thanks to you - the riders of the PGR.

 

You demonstrate a commitment that is second to none.  You provide a service
that no other group in the entire country provides and you do it so well
that no other group has even thought to try to duplicate it.  You can, and
should, be very proud of the organization you have built, and continue to
build.  Here in the North Texas area, we cover a lot of ground.  We have
excellent leadership in the form of our ride captains in every area.  In
addition to our metroplex ride captains we have Ted Beauchamp in
Breckenridge, Cathy Cannon in Weatherford, Mike and Barbara Johnson leading
the way in Wichita Falls, Gene and Sharon Faulk in Gainesville and Sparky
Cox holding the reins in the Texoma area of Sherman/Denison.  Each with very
capable Captains working with them and dedicated riders in those areas.

 

It takes each and every person pulling in the same direction to make the PGR
function at its best.  All of you do that beautifully.  No matter what the
circumstance, no matter what the weather, the time of day, the hardship, you
make it happen.  I've witnessed it with my own eyes time and time again.
The families we serve have been universally grateful.  Their grief often
overcomes them when we see them and they are unable to thank everyone as
they would like to, but we hear from the majority of them at some point
later and you have had a positive effect on them all.  Your kind and caring
spirit touches their hearts.  The flags on the motorcycles and in the flag
lines makes them proud of our country and proud of their loved one.  Many
have commented at how touched they are as they see you pray with them and
how impressive it is to see you, someone they don't know and who didn't know
their loved one, standing so respectfully and with true and genuine honor.

 

You see, the members of the public and the family and guests at these
services don't miss too much.  They are sizing us up all the time and we are
continuing to pass muster at every test.thanks to you.  Without YOU there is
no PGR.  Without YOU America has not done its best to honor its military.
And sometimes, without YOU, there would be hardly anyone at all to send a
veteran on his final journey.  It is true that everything we do is about the
service person and their family, but without YOU to be there in the first
place, our services wouldn't be available in the first place.because the PGR
is the only one who does what we do.

 

Thank you all.  I am honored and humbled that you allow me to ride and stand
beside you.

 

Steve Lucas

Deputy State Captain

North Texas PGR
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